Description

No. 377 on the list occurred at Herrington Colliery, belonging to Messrs. Lambton Collieries, Ltd., on August 17th, causing the death of three deputies.

A fall of side stone had taken place in one of the engine planes in the morning of the day in question and the overman, back-overman, and eight deputies went to the place, and commenced to clear the stone away ; while they were doing so a second fall occurred and displaced two baulks and a prop, which allowed the stone from the roof to fall, and it caught and killed these three men and very seriously injured the back-overman and another deputy.

The size of the first fall was about 14 ft. x 6 ft. x 14 ins, thick, and the second 8½ yards long x 10 ft. wide x 6 inns, thick. The stone is a mild blue with a very close grain and is affected by the variation of temperature, and as the weather was very hot at the time of the accident, this was no doubt the cause of the first fall.

The overman said he and some of the deputies examined the place before starting to clear the stone away, and they thought it was quite safe to work under the stone which afterwards fell, but a piece of side stone fell and displaced two props under the end of two baulks, and thus let the top stone down on to the men.

All the deputies and overmen were good careful men, but they, I think, showed a lack of judgment by not setting some middle props under the baulks which were afterwards let down by the props at one end of them being displaced. Had this precaution been taken, this accident would probably not have occurred.

Too much care cannot be taken when falls have to be cleared away, as the movement that caused the first fall has probably not ceased and may cause another. Steps should be taken at once to set timber under doubtful stone, and a well experienced man should take charge of the others and do nothing but watch the place and give warning of any danger.

It is a great mistake to send so many men to clear away a fall of this kind, as the noise made is so great that any warning the stone may give is not heard or noticed.

Tombstone

Related Articles

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 15 Where to find this report
• 1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 40, Accident Number: 377 Where to find this report
• Church/Cemetery photograph (T-00721-01-0002) © Kev Duncan
• Headstone(s) in St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle
• Tombstone photograph (T-00682-01-0002) © Kev Duncan

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